11/25/11 Seneca Rocks TrailMonagahela National ForestSecena Rocks, WV

November 25 was a beautiful fall day, sunny and warm. Holly and I were staying in a house in Deep Creek with two friends' families and we decided to take them to Seneca Rocks and hike to the top. The Seneca Rocks Trail has recently re-opened and we haven't hiked it yet, so this was the perfect opportunity. We set off around 10:30, arrived at Seneca Rocks around noon, and ate lunch at Yocums, then we went across the street to the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center. To our dismay the visitor center was closed, so we parked in the lower lot and started our hike.

The Seneca Rocks Trail isn't blazed, but it can't be missed as it is now lined with gravel the entire way to the top and has many interpretive signs, stairs, fences, etc., to guide hikers to the observation platform at the top. The trail was steep, but many switchbacks and stairs make the ascent manageable. The trail climbs 900 feet to the top of Seneca Rock in 1.3 miles. To begin the hike, follow the trail out of the lower parking lot that leads to the river (this is the North Fork Branch of the Potomac River) and walk across the concrete dam. If the water is too high you can take the trail along the base of the hill below the visitor center and cross the river on a bridge. We walked across the dam, turned left, and followed the gravel road. We soon came to a junction with a trail going to the left and the fire road to the right. A sign indicates the trail to the observation platform goes left and the Rory Gap Road goes right. We went left toward the observation platform.

The trail winds though the forest at the base of Seneca Rock over level ground for about a quarter mile and then turns and begins to climb to the summit. The entire path is covered with gravel and the walking is easy. There are steps in several areas. We continued along the switchbacks, climbing higher and higher as we went. The views from the trail were beautiful, thanks to the leaves having already fallen from the trees. In the summer the views along the trail would be obscured by leaves. At 1.3 miles we reached the observation platform, a large wooden deck with views to the south. The day was clear and we had an excellent view of the valley 900 feet below us.

The observation platform is not at the top of the rock. To get to the top you must scramble up the rock face. There are no guardrails or fences here, and the rock is slick in places, meaning one slip could send you plunging over the cliff and down into the valley below. There is a large sign here warning you not to climb to the top without proper climbing equipment. I scrambled to the top with my son and stepson, but I can't recommend this to anyone else. I have a lot of climbing experience and I instructed the boys step-by-step as we scrambled to the top. The scramble isn't difficult, it's just the fact that one slip could send you plunging to your death that should make you think twice about climbing to the top.

We stayed at the top for a while enjoying the views and taking photos, and then scrambled back down to the observation platform and hiked back to the parking lot. This was a great hike on a perfect day and everyone enjoyed themselves, even the kids in our group who like to complain whenever we go somewhere. This is a hike that I highly recommend.